The history of the Igel

The foundation date is may 1st in 1871. In the winter term of 1870/71 met the friends of Friedrich Gruner, called the “Ur-Igel” and also  founder and father, by the fraternity, occasionally for common activities.

They called each other Igel (hedgehog); soft on the inside and spiky on the surface.

For being allowed to participate in the 400 anniversary party of the university – where only fraternities were allowed participate -  the Igel was officially founded as a fraternity in 1877 under the name “Tübinger Gesellschaft Igel”.

In 1879 the Igel became a typical fraternity by introducing an own statue and regular conventions (Konvente).

Some years later the Igel started fencing, but stopped in 1920. Since the 80’s of the second last century the name fraternity Igel was official.

In the year 1898 the so called “Altenverein” was founded. It decided to build the house, which was inaugurated in 1902.

After  1933 the Igel was put under the pressure of the national socialists. Finally in april 1938 the Igel and the fraternity Virtembergia were united to the “Kameradschaft Neithardt von Gneisenau” in the “Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Studentenbund.”

In autumn 1947 Hans Hermann Teuffel re-founded the Igel. The members could move into the house in winter term 1951/52. Until this date, it was used by the “Württembergischen Rechnungshof”.

With finishing the extension in 1963, the Igel-house became the look as it is today.